Penn to Minnesota?

[Masbee]

so...what has Penn done to warrant his reputation? A few trade exceptions? wow. no one ever acquires trade exceptions. is he more a "behind the scenes" guy?

I just don't see why he is "such a genius" with the cap.

Great. I don't care. He doesn't care.

If you think Minny is looking at him because he is a lightweight who hasn't done crap, that's on you.

 

[BTOWN_HUSTLA]

way to avoid the question!

Minnesota...who's previous GM was Kevin McHale....yeah. I don't think they could really do worse than that.

 

[SodaPopinski]

Sounds like he is as good as gone:

The Wolves' GM search is strictly focused on Penn at this point, with sources saying that he has been offered the job. The expectation in Portland, one source added, is that Penn will accept the offer and soon join the Wolves.

Crap. Tom's and Minnesota's gain is our loss.

-Pop

 

[THE HCP]

Interesting. He does know our plans for the future and this summer. Wonder how KP handles this. Does he say, you know we are going after Gerald Wallace and ANdre miller this summer, so you guys can't!

 

[number 10]

that sucks, although his biggest use to the Blazers was this summer, given that it's the last time there will be cap space. Hopefully all plans are already made and he doesn't mess them up for us. Still, in a way it's better to have teams wanting your assistant GM than not. Just look at the Spurs, quite a few good GMs have come from them. At least it means that KP is doing something right.

 

[BTOWN_HUSTLA]

Interesting. He does know our plans for the future and this summer. Wonder how KP handles this. Does he say, you know we are going after Gerald Wallace and ANdre miller this summer, so you guys can't!

obviously they should probably have non-compete clause in his contract or something along those line to get him out of his contract with the blazers. he should be an upstart, by the books type if he was in the blazers org....no need to go around and trying to screw us.

 

[Minstrel]

What kind of non-compete clauses can an NBA team apply to a front office person hired away by another NBA team? From what I've seen, traditionally non-compete clauses mean that the person can't engage in business directly competing with his former company's business for a certain length of time. But I can't see how that would work with an NBA GM...the entire job of an NBA GM is to compete with all other teams for players. "Non-compete" would seem to mean "You can't actually be their GM for 6 months." How can Penn be a GM for Minnesota and fail to compete with Portland?

 

[oldmangrouch]

Give the T'Wolves this - they are thinking ahead.

After the 2011 lock-out, when Stern forces an NFL style hard cap on the league, bean-counters like Penn will become far more important. 10 years from now, the "talent evaluator" type GM may be extinct.

 

[Masbee]

What kind of non-compete clauses can an NBA team apply to a front office person hired away by another NBA team? From what I've seen, traditionally non-compete clauses mean that the person can't engage in business directly competing with his former company's business for a certain length of time. But I can't see how that would work with an NBA GM...the entire job of an NBA GM is to compete with all other teams for players. "Non-compete" would seem to mean "You can't actually be their GM for 6 months." How can Penn be a GM for Minnesota and fail to compete with Portland?

Non competes are severely restricted or outlawed in most states. The team could have a trade secret clause. It would be hard to enforce, but if Penn nakedly mucked up Portland's plans, told to many people Portland's secret plans (the more people you tell, the more likely you are found out) or used their secret sauce (that other team's don't use) they could have a case. I am sure Penn will be careful not to cross that line.

 

[BTOWN_HUSTLA]

What kind of non-compete clauses can an NBA team apply to a front office person hired away by another NBA team? From what I've seen, traditionally non-compete clauses mean that the person can't engage in business directly competing with his former company's business for a certain length of time. But I can't see how that would work with an NBA GM...the entire job of an NBA GM is to compete with all other teams for players. "Non-compete" would seem to mean "You can't actually be their GM for 6 months." How can Penn be a GM for Minnesota and fail to compete with Portland?

he would have to sign something to the effects of to not maliciously block certain planned moves or to use protected knowledge in his time in the Portland war rooms to Minnesota....

 

[MAS RipCity]

Interesting. He does know our plans for the future and this summer. Wonder how KP handles this. Does he say, you know we are going after Gerald Wallace and ANdre miller this summer, so you guys can't!

Minny has nobody anyone wants anyways

 

[hasoos]

I am starting to get concerned about this a little bit. If Tom Penn has Blazer inside information going into the draft, he could try to out manuever us, or possibly spill the beans on what we are going to do in order to get what he wants. Unethical? Yes. But this is america.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Question: does Penn have a multi-year contract with the Blazers?

Teams generally allow front office people and assistant coaches out of their contracts to take promotions with other teams.....but they don't *have* to do it. I assume the Blazers could say "fine, you can take the job, but we aren't releasing you until AFTER the draft."

 

[barfo]

I doubt this comes as a big shock to KP. He's presumably known ever since he hired him that Penn was looking for a head GM job, and had a good idea of his chances to get one.

barfo

 

[barfo]

The important question here is, how can I get hired as Penn's replacement?

barfo

 

[maxiep]

What kind of non-compete clauses can an NBA team apply to a front office person hired away by another NBA team? From what I've seen, traditionally non-compete clauses mean that the person can't engage in business directly competing with his former company's business for a certain length of time. But I can't see how that would work with an NBA GM...the entire job of an NBA GM is to compete with all other teams for players. "Non-compete" would seem to mean "You can't actually be their GM for 6 months." How can Penn be a GM for Minnesota and fail to compete with Portland?

In my business, we call it "professional amnesia". It's standard when switching companies that you don't act on any information you have about your former employer. I would assume it's the same in the NBA.

 

[Minstrel]

In my business, we call it "professional amnesia". It's standard when switching companies that you don't act on any information you have about your former employer. I would assume it's the same in the NBA.

As a matter of professional courtesy, I'm sure that's reasonable. I just don't see how that can be contractually stipulated. Penn could legitimately believe that going after Andre Miller or whoever Portland is targeting is a good move for Minnesota, regardless of his time with Portland. I think it would be very hard or impossible to prove that an executive was acting in bad faith using knowledge of his former team's plans rather than just making moves that make the most sense for his new team. Especially in the NBA, where the potential targets/moves are much more constrained. It would be far from an amazing coincidence if Minnesota should legitimately be going after a player that Portland is.

 

[maxiep]

As a matter of professional courtesy, I'm sure that's reasonable. I just don't see how that can be contractually stipulated. Penn could legitimately believe that going after Andre Miller or whoever Portland is targeting is a good move for Minnesota, regardless of his time with Portland. I think it would be very hard or impossible to prove that an executive was acting in bad faith using knowledge of his former team's plans rather than just making moves that make the most sense for his new team. Especially in the NBA, where the potential targets/moves are much more constrained. It would be far from an amazing coincidence if Minnesota should legitimately be going after a player that Portland is.

That's the point. It's not contractually obligated; it's what professionals who have to continue to deal with each other do. It's not only the moral thing to do, it's good business. And the GM business appears to be more transitory than mine. Glen Taylor may ask a question about what Portland thought of a certain player. The correct answer is "I can't say" rather than give the answer. It also means that if you think you're going to fire a guy or he's going to find another club, you can trust him.

 

[Minstrel]

That's the point. It's not contractually obligated; it's what professionals who have to continue to deal with each other do. It's not only the moral thing to do, it's good business. And the GM business appears to be more transitory than mine. Glen Taylor may ask a question about what Portland thought of a certain player. The correct answer is "I can't say" rather than give the answer. It also means that if you think you're going to fire a guy or he's going to find another club, you can trust him.

Yes, I don't think Penn acting in bad faith was a real risk. I was simply not seeing how "non-compete" contracts could be done.

 

[maxiep]

Yes, I don't think Penn acting in bad faith was a real risk. I was simply not seeing how "non-compete" contracts could be done.

I never brought up the idea of a non-compete clause. It's my understanding that in an association like the NBA has, it's custom to allow anyone to move to a higher position without compensation and if it's a lateral move, then compensation is negotiated.

 

[Sug]

Minny has three first round picks this year, I would assume that Tom Penn could be deemed the next KP if he plays his cards right on this draft. Get two of the top 5 picks perhaps, kinda like a Roy/LMA. I wonder if Steph Curry is this years Brandon Roy.

 

[Minstrel]

I never brought up the idea of a non-compete clause. It's my understanding that in an association like the NBA has, it's custom to allow anyone to move to a higher position without compensation and if it's a lateral move, then compensation is negotiated.

Yeah, I know you didn't. I was questioning those who did, originally.

 

[cdub503]

whats the potential of us stealing their best players and giving them mediocre players? again....

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I dont like this! Penn should stick with us for a few more years because then he'd probably get offers from better teams/owners.

 

[cdub503]

Well good thing he is now! Reports on espn and blazersedge I'd give links but I'm on my phone

 

[Mediocre Man]

Well good thing he is now! Reports on espn and blazersedge I'd give links but I'm on my phone

Here you go

http://www.blazersedge.com/

 

[BTOWN_HUSTLA]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4175419

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

 

[Masbee]

Penn stays! Penn stays!He knew too much. Ha ha.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Great news . . . although I hope he got a heafty promotion, because two other potential GMs turned down the job which makes me think it wasn't the most desireable job (maybe owner talking about serious cut backs, which could make any GM look bad).

Penn will have another shot at GM . . . but title aside, can anyone pay him more than Allen?